The tape performed on loop all week in Notre Dame’s facility, a sobering reminder for the Irish two years later of what USC, underneath Lincoln Riley, may very well be when every little thing was working in live performance. A superhero at quarterback. A rolling run recreation. A ferocious entrance. That dominant win over Notre Dame, within the closing week of the 2022 season, had in some ways been the high-water mark of the coach’s Trojan tenure, the kind of main second that may seemingly propel a program to new heights.
The 2 years since have been spent chasing that feeling, as one irritating season bled into one other, with USC by no means fairly capable of meet that second, stumbling its method to Saturday when the Trojans had an opportunity to, ever so briefly, glimpse that magic once more.
However that gentle solely flickered for just a few moments within the fourth quarter of USC’s 49-35 loss to Notre Dame, because the Trojans drove the sphere within the fourth quarter with an opportunity to tie late. As a substitute of its quarterback saving the day, Jayden Maiava watched as his move was picked off and returned 99 yards for a landing.
In his third begin, Maiava tried to emulate Caleb Williams, extending performs, launching passes downfield and punching in two brief scores within the course of. Going through the nation’s No. 1 move protection, Maiava managed to throw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, however couldn’t conjure up the magic vital when it mattered most.
Notre Dame working again Jeremiyah Love (4) dives into the top zone to attain as USC security Akili Arnold (0) and his teammates attempt to cease him Saturday on the Coliseum.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances)
With Notre Dame main by two scores into the fourth quarter — and after a uncommon cease from USC’s protection — Maiava willed the Trojans again inside placing distance, finishing two huge performs downfield to arrange a six-yard landing strike to wideout Ja’Kobi Lane.
He’d get the ball again simply three minutes later, with an opportunity to play hero.
Maiava launched one deep ball down the sideline, hitting Duce Robinson for a 22-yard acquire. On the subsequent play, working again Quinten Joyner rolled for 23 extra yards, leaving USC proper outdoors of the pink zone.
However with Notre Dame lastly inside attain, Maiava made his first main mistake of the afternoon, slinging a move close to the pylon towards Kyron Hudson that was picked off by Irish cornerback Christian Gray.
Gray took off from the one-yard line, with solely inexperienced grass in entrance of him. He didn’t cease till he’d sprinted 99 yards for a game-ending pick-six.
The Irish added one other second fourth-quarter pick-six one drive later as Maiava threw up a determined prayer into the top zone. It wasn’t answered.
The Trojans’ offense had stayed afloat to that time with out the assistance of beginning working again Woody Marks, who was injured within the first half and by no means returned. Joyner averaged greater than eight yards per carry in his place, ending with 83 yards in 10 carries.
Notre Dame moved the ball at will on USC’s protection within the third quarter, simply as USC’s offense hit a snag. The Irish piled up 437 yards, together with 259 on the bottom, as they bullied the Trojans all through.
The missed alternatives began early on Saturday. Confronted with a fourth-and-two on USC’s opening drive, Riley dialed up a swing move to receiver Zachariah Department that was snuffed out within the backfield.
Notre Dame wasted no time from there, exacting its plans to bully the Trojans up entrance. The Irish ran the ball eight occasions on a 13-play opening drive, punching USC within the mouth proper out of the gate, earlier than punching in a one-yard rating.
After a second straight stalled possession to begin the sport on offense, the Trojans punched again on the opposite facet of the ball — actually. Cornerback Jacobe Covington knocked out a fumble from Irish wideout Jayden Thomas, handing possession again to USC, which had little hassle taking benefit deep in Notre Dame territory. 5 performs later, Maiava ran for a one-yard landing, his third dashing rating in as many video games.
With momentum swinging its method, USC was primed to drive a three-and-out. However a pretend punt stored the drive alive for Notre Dame, which mounted one other 13-play drive … solely to overlook a chip shot subject aim from the USC 27.
The Trojans’ protection didn’t get a lot respite in response, because the Trojans managed only one yard earlier than punting. Notre Dame wanted seven performs to drive the sphere after that as tight finish Eli Raredon burst previous USC linebacker Mason Cobb, streaking open simply lengthy sufficient for Leonard to seek out him for a 12-yard rating.
With solely 55 seconds left within the half, Maiava let unfastened downfield, ultimately discovering Makai Lemon for a 35-yard catch that pulled USC into field-goal vary. An ill-timed move interference for Notre Dame pulled the Trojans even nearer. Then, with 24 seconds nonetheless remaining, Maiava threw a 12-yard strike to Lane, whose seventh rating of the season tied the sport at 14.
Maiava discovered himself again in an identical spot halfway via the fourth quarter. However this time, his move didn’t make it to its meant goal. Notre Dame rolled from there.
